Top Five Tips to Reduce Errors as a Medical Transcriptionist
Sushobhan Bhandari
December 2022
Medical transcription errors can have serious consequences for patients.
Faulty transcription of a physician’s dictation can severely affect the patient’s well-being –– wrong medication or procedure and, in the worst-case scenario, death.
In this blog , we will discuss five tips on how you can reduce errors as a medical transcriptionist.
We will cover
common causes of medical transcription errors,
steps to prevent them,
and how to correct such errors.
1. Focus on Accuracy Over Speed
Medical transcriptionists should be able to type accurately and quickly to keep up with the audio recordings they are transcribing.
You can always improve your speed later, so focus on accuracy, as errors have serious consequences.
In some cases, these errors can lead to misdiagnosis or incorrect treatments.
2. Listen to the Audio Carefully
Always listen to the entire sentence and understand the context before transcribing.
Make sure you:
✅ Listen and understand every word before typing.
❌ Never listen and transcribe simultaneously.
❌ Never transcribe word by word.
If you come across drugs or medical terminologies that are difficult or unfamiliar, replay and relisten to the term.
3. Familiarize Yourself with Common Medical Terminologies
Learn frequently used medical terms and abbreviations.
Medical terms can include info like:
medical terminologies like carcinoma, ICU etc.
common drug names like paracetamol, azithromycin etc.
Of course, you won’t be able to memorize every medical term in the book.
That’s why it’s important to 1) learn on the go 2) always have a medical dictionary by your side as a reference.
Based on the job requirement of the particular medical center or transcription service that you’re applying to, you might need to get certification that proves your ability to transcribe medical records accurately.
4. Check for Critical Errors
Always proofread your medical transcription document twice before submitting. When checking for critical errors, look out for numerics and measuring units.
470mg vs. 47mg, microgram vs. milligram.
One hack that we’ve found useful while transcribing medical audio at Reduct.Video is to do the transcription review on a mobile device.
5. Improve Typing Skill
You won’t survive for long in the transcription business if you type with two fingers.
Touch typing, the ability to type without looking at the keyboard is almost a primary requirement to become a professional transcriptionist. ‘
Use an online typing tool to measure your words per minute (WPM).
Start Your Journey As a Medical Transcriptionist
Medical transcription business is competitive. Being able to stand out makes you valuable and helps advance your medical transcription career.
These five tips are helpful to reduce errors and increase your credibility in the medical transcription business.
